With such a massive amount of magic being expelled so suddenly, it would have blown up all of Hogwarts in an instant. Fortunately, the location of the Core was magically protected in case something like this happened. After all, no matter how stable something is, there will always be moments of fierce magical fluctuations due to the movements of the Ley Lines.
Although it didn't destroy Hogwarts, the entire castle shook, the blue barrier protecting the castle flickered a few times, almost as if it would disappear at any moment. Fortunately, the barrier held firm, although its color was much more opaque.
Herpo, the Archbishop, and Grindelwald didn't need to speak to each other; they knew what to do at that moment.
The three of them drew their wands and pointed them at Hogwarts, still shielded by the barrier.
At that very moment, three gigantic spells shot out from the tips of their three wands, violently tearing through the air and colliding with the barrier.
The three spells, fired simultaneously by Herpo, the Archbishop, and Grindelwald, were of devastating power. Converging at one point, they formed a vortex of raw energy that threatened to break the already weakened magical barrier of Hogwarts.
The barrier, now pulsing in a pale and unstable blue, oscillated violently under the impact of the spells. Sparkling lights shot from its surface like sparks from a forge, each ripple containing within it a silent plea for preservation.
Inside the castle, students and professors felt the ground shake beneath their feet. Corridors and rooms vibrated with the uncontrolled energy released by the destruction of the Core, and now, with the barrier being bombarded, the atmosphere was charged with an almost palpable tension.
Then, what everyone feared happened—in a mere second, Minerva watched the barrier that had protected Hogwarts for over a millennium break in a single instant under the devastating attack of Three Especial Grade Wizards.
She didn't know what had happened at the Core, nor whether Filius was alive, but she knew she had to focus on what was happening.
Minerva crouched down and touched the cold rock of the floor; without hesitation, she used her Innate Technique!
"World Manipulation," she murmured calmly.
Making the castle shake even more, stone walls rose from the ground with a thunderous sound, encircling the entire castle!
In the next second, Minerva kept up her attack with pillars of stone; massive stone pillars shot towards the hill where the three High-Grade Wizards were located, according to Rose. As the stone pillars hurtled through the air, they seemed almost alive, directed by Minerva's unwavering intent to protect Hogwarts.
The landscape around the hill was abruptly reshaped as the pillars landed, creating a barrage that served both as defense and attack. Each pillar slammed into the ground with such force that it sent shockwaves through the area, aiming to disrupt the wizards' concentration and block further assaults on the castle.
-
"Minerva McGonagall, a very powerful Innate Technique. Unfortunately, she lacks enough talent; otherwise, she would be one of the strongest, capable of destroying entire countries with that Innate Technique," Grindelwald said calmly as he watched the enormous pillars approaching.
"A mere semi-special grade witch heretic," the Archbishop scoffed disdainfully.
Herpo and Grindelwald merely rolled their eyes at the Archbishop's words, both aware that this kind of fanatic couldn't communicate like a truly intelligent person.
Seeing that the Archbishop and Grindelwald didn't move to block the attack, Herpo reluctantly waved his wand gracefully, and the next moment, all the stone pillars transformed into butterflies.
"You blocked our view, foolish heretic," the Archbishop complained loudly, as tens of thousands of butterfly mirages filled the sky.
Being called a Foolish Heretic by the very organization he himself had whimsically created caused Herpo's lips to twitch abnormally.
Suddenly, the expressions on Herpo and Grindelwald's faces changed drastically!
A gigantic multicolored sword broke through a section of the stone wall and flew towards the hill where they stood!
Grindelwald did not hesitate; he Apparated along with his Acolytes and disappeared.
Herpo followed suit, Apparating away as well.
The Archbishop was the slowest; he only had time to grab a few subordinates before Apparating, leaving almost thirty fanatics behind.
The multicolored sword arrived moments after they would have been hit.
– Boom!
Like a nuclear explosion, a cloud of steam and heat rose into the sky. The terrain around shattered, and gigantic chunks of earth and stone were thrown upward.
As for the fanatics left behind, they all turned into ashes floating in the air.
Behind the wall, a huge humanoid figure rose, gigantic wings of golden light unfolded on the figure's back. It appeared to be a woman with long white hair wearing angelic armor.
It was a Valkyrie!
The War Maiden – Minelauva Iris!
On another hill, Herpo looked at the huge cursed spirit with surprise.
"I have to admire the boy's imagination, he really knows how to create powerful cursed spirits," Herpo laughed and said, gazing at the Valkyrie who seemed more like a goddess than a cursed spirit, although the malignant energy was unmistakable.
Looking to the side, Herpo noticed the calm expression on Grindelwald's face, as if he had known in advance.
"Asterion is not in Hogwarts according to the information, which means he placed this cursed spirit to protect someone," Herpo continued, speaking with a gentle smile.
Grindelwald narrowed his eyes and looked at Herpo, disliking the mysterious man spying on the successor he had chosen in case he died today.
Perhaps noticing the displeasure in the seer's gaze, Herpo returned the look with a gentle and friendly smile.
Just as he was about to speak, a gigantic pillar of light fell from the sky and collided with the Valkyrie.
"It seems the Archbishop has begun," Herpo said before Apparating away again.
Grindelwald looked to his acolytes behind him and spoke calmly.
"Begin."
"Yes, my Master!"
With that, they all Apparated.
Grindelwald remained at the location, waiting for the arrival of his old rival and lover.
After all, without anyone to delay the most powerful man in the world, this entire operation would be a failure.
-
Seeing the cursed spirit that emerged from her shadow, Daphne felt an inexplicable sweetness in her heart.
"This is good, at least one of the Three Special Grade wizards is occupied," Minerva murmured in relief upon seeing the cursed spirit that looked more like a goddess, but the malignant energy was unmistakable—it was a cursed spirit!
Minerva looked towards Rose, hesitating. Did she really want to send a child who hadn't even finished her first year to fight?
But before Minerva could decide, Rose, who had been paying attention to the cursed spirit, turned her gaze towards the man who had suddenly appeared at the entrance of the Great Hall.
He had features of Middle Eastern descent, dressed in an elegant black suit with a perfectly groomed beard framing his face.
"Who are you?" Rose asked, drawing the attention of everyone in the Great Hall.
Everyone, including Minerva, felt a shiver run through their bodies at the gaze of that man.
A Special Grade Wizard!
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Author's Thoughts: Another cliff... I hope I can leave the house without being kidnapped... :D
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Next Chapter: Chapter 72 - Invasion of Hogwarts (5), Chapter 73 - Invasion of Hogwarts (6), Chapter 74 - Invasion of Hogwarts (7), Chapter 75 - Invasion of Hogwarts (8), Chapter 76 - Invasion of Hogwarts (9), Chapter 77 - Invasion of Hogwarts (10), Chapter 78 - Invasion of Hogwarts (11), Chapter 79 - Post-War (1), Chapter 80 - Heir of Salazar Slytherin (1), Chapter 81 - Heir of Salazar Slytherin (2), Chapter 82 - Heir of Salazar Slytherin (3), Chapter 83 - Salazar's Heir Slytherin (4), Chapter 84 - Sequels, Chapter 85 - Civil War (1), 86 - Civil War (2), 87 - Civil War (3), 88 - Civil War (4), 89 - Civil War (5), Chapter 90 - Civil War (6), Chapter 91 - Battlefield (1), Chapter 92 - Battlefield (2), Chapter 93 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (1), Chapter 94 – Conflicts on the Battlefield (2).